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American Morning
Surviving a Layoff
Aired August 21, 2001 - 11:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to change gears and talk something that is a bit closer to the Earth now: the economy. Having a rough time right now, we know, and lots of folks are having a rough time with it. Chances are pretty good that you have thought about the possibility, like those astronauts who are coming back home, may lose their job. They temporarily, you maybe permanently. Now what if the worst does happen to you at work? How do you survive a layoff?
John Challenger is an unemployment analysts. He's also CEO of Chicago based Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a consulting firm, and he joins us this morning.
We thank you very much for take the time to talk on to us.
I want to talk to ask you first off, John, about something I've heard. You can actually -- you have some advice for people who are trying to avoid being laid off. Is that even possible?
JOHN CHALLENGER:, CHALLENGER, GRAY & CHRISTMAS: Of course it is, because many companies, when they are making those layoffs, many managers, are faced with the decision of I have got three people, they are all pretty close, which one am I going to choose? Which one will I give the bad news to? And usually, they just don't take the people that they're getting along with. So keeping that relationship with your boss in good repair is so important.
HARRIS: Does that mean -- you mean brown-nosing? Is what that what you're talking about?
CHALLENGER: No. It has to be real, not something that you can put on. But if does mean, if things aren't working out, you need to sit down have a heart to heart with that boss and keep that relationship good. That is a key. You know, often people think that it's just performance, but so many people, and so many jobs are not so measurable so simply, and it often comes down to a gut decisions by a manager who doesn't want to let anybody go, but has to pick someone.
HARRIS: if I am honest with myself to say they can't do that, or that won't happen for whatever reason, how do I prepare myself for this eventuality?
CHALLENGER: Well, certainly, in today's marketplace, it always pays to be ready. That means your resume must be up to date. You've got to constantly be building what I call social capital. That means staying involved outside of work. Just don't put your nose to the grindstone, only do your job. Get involved in professional organizations, in charities and community organizations. That's often the best place and the first place that people look when they start to conduct a job search.
HARRIS: Yes, all right. Saying that we all go through the process and it does anyone, I end up sliding myself out the door and getting the pink slip, and then what? How do you handle it once you are laid off?
CHALLENGER: The first thing I recommend is to take seven to 10 days and cool off. The emotions get roiled when you've been let go. Everyone thinks it's not going to happen to them. So when the event actually happens, it can send you like a roller coaster up and down. It's not the best time to go out and do a search. So take that first seven to 10 days, put together your resume, put together the list of people you know, get your cover letters together, and then begin your search, but give yourself some emotional downtime.
HARRIS: Let me ask you something, in regards to your giving people this kind of advice, is business good for you nowadays or what?
CHALLENGER: Well, certainly, we're in a different place than we were say a decade ago, and many companies just shove their people out of the company, on the street and didn't give them support. Today, most all companies give severance, health insurance, continuation, and outplacement. We help bridge people into the next job, and more companies are using that kind of help today.
HARRIS: Yes, John, you are a great job and I hope that your business goes bad lately in the next few months or so.
CHALLENGER: I want that space shuttle job. That's what I'm going to do if I lose my job.
HARRIS: You're going to have to wrestle Miles O'Brien to get that. Trust me, buddy, you have a tough way to go on that one.
John Challenger, thank so much. Good to talk to you again. Take care. We'll talk to you down the road.
CHALLENGER: Thanks.
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